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Monday, July 11, 2011

Fiscal Five

Wanna know 5 fiscal facts about Mysti???

1) My first paying job was as a Mother's Helper for a family in my neighborhood. I was 13, and I got paid $2.00 an hour to basically be a slave. I took care of the kids (a 4 month old and a 4 year old), folded laundry, did dishes...all while the mom was there....and boy was I scared to ask for a $.50 an hour raise!!! The 4 month old is now 23. *sigh*

2) The amount of money we received as wedding gifts (with the exception of my in-laws...which is a whole other story)....bought us groceries. Seriously. One grocery store trip. I watched a show recently where a couple used their wedding money for a downpayment on a house. Mine bought us Hamburger Helper.

3) Once, I accidentally threw out a $100 bill. My MIL sent G-man money for his birthday. It was in an envelope, and I threw it out. I SWORE I checked the envelope before I pitched everything, but after tearing our apartment to shreds, it was gone. I was so upset. I was 24.

4) I got my first checkbook at 16, and my first credit card at 21. I still have both accounts, and I am 36.

and

5) I have this feeling that I have an open account somewhere that I am forgetting about. I have done all the searches and nothing. But I swear....when we moved to CT, I forgot to close an account.

My first paying job (before I babysat, delivered papers & sold cards door to door) was as kitchen staff at a restaurant. I was paid $2.80/hr. It would have been less if they could have gotten away with it. I did everything, bused tables, did dishes, did some of the cooking, cleaned the bar, worked at the front desk (there was a motel attached) and chambermaid duties along with laundry. It taught me a lot, like what I didn't want to do for the rest of my life. It also made me appreciate how hard some people have to work to make money. Looking back now...it was time well spent.

My first job was at a local fast food joint named Purple Turtle. I still love to go there and enjoy some tater gems:)

I graduated from college with a degree in Family Science...back then when I "knew everything". My plan was to live the dream...have kids and stay home with them and never have to work. I did get to live that dream for 14 years till my husband lost his job. I started working in the lab at the hospital to provide insurance for our family...that microbiology class I took paid off:) I thought it would be a temporary bump in the dream...but I have worked there for the past 9 years now. I love my job...but still miss being at home.